Burma vs. Laos

[Phordphan]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southea.../JE17Ae01.html

Yet another reason why I'm opposed to government-to-government foreign aid.

PP

[JasonBalmer]

I've been able to call by telephone a few contacts in Rangoon since the cyclone hit. It's quite a dire situation for many there since there is still no electricity in many places in Rangoon. As a result, many shops and businesses can not function and those lucky enough to have a job before the cyclone now have no income for the time being. This includes the WG's, by the way, .. my favorite mongering places at Thein Gyi Ze (Palace, Emperor etc) have been closed since the cyclone. I hope to make a visit there soon.

Thanks for the update, Sakaundeh. Looking forward to any other info you may be able to share.

There are various opportunities for some of us to contribute to aid thru various orgs and channels. But some of us are skeptical as to the benefit actually reaching those in need. Any insight you gain in your visit regarding truly effective means by which we might offer help would be appreciated.

[JasonBalmer]

We need to send two planes:

1 full of food

1 full of US Marines with orders to protect the food from the junta.

The food WILL get to its final destination. And who knows, we may even be able to oust a ridiculous tin-pot military dictatorship that is willing to starve a massive section of its populous to maintain junta control.

Why should we let the idiots of the world prevent us from being generous and kind to those in desperate need?

I share your sentiment and frustration.

Please allow me to re-phrase your question so that I might pose what I believe is the answer. You essentially ask:

"Why do we let others prevent us from being generous and kind to those in desperate need?"

I believe the answer lies in the fact that doing so would greatly [CodeWord140] off a country that holds a trillion or more of our dollars. It would be quite easy for them to use those in a way that would have a severe impact on our already fragile economy. Although we may rail about the obvious mis-management of the crisis in Myanmar we are, in fact, hamstrung by our own mismanagement of our fiscal affairs.

Just my humble and possibly ill-informred opinion.

[Sakaundeh]

I've been able to call by telephone a few contacts in Rangoon since the cyclone hit. It's quite a dire situation for many there since there is still no electricity in many places in Rangoon. As a result, many shops and businesses can not function and those lucky enough to have a job before the cyclone now have no income for the time being. This includes the WG's, by the way, .. my favorite mongering places at Thein Gyi Ze (Palace, Emperor etc) have been closed since the cyclone. I hope to make a visit there soon.

[Saint Jack]

Just had a conversation with a friend in Yangon to update what the city is like right now.

Officially it was reported 1,200 persons dies in Yangon but could be more. The Scott market was closed the past week and just got back to business early this week.

Electricity is still out for most of the city so people have to depend on their own generator (if they do own one and can find petrol to fill it)

Telephone line is being restalled in some area so things are gradually getting back to work but far from normal.

All necessity in life is much scarcer than before so price jumped up 4-5 times. So those who are poor get even harder to get what they need.

I feel sorry for the people and feel like contributing something for them but have doubt if the donation will reach those in need.

[Pure Power]

We need to send two planes:

1 full of food

1 full of US Marines with orders to protect the food from the junta.

The food WILL get to its final destination. And who knows, we may even be able to oust a ridiculous tin-pot military dictatorship that is willing to starve a massive section of its populous to maintain junta control.

Why should we let the idiots of the world prevent us from being generous and kind to those in desperate need?

[JasonBalmer]

The Associated Press reports:
May 10, 6:40 AM EDT

Myanmar junta hands out aid boxes with generals' names

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Myanmar's military regime distributed international aid Saturday but plastered the boxes with the names of top generals in an apparent effort to turn the relief effort for last week's devastating cyclone into a propaganda exercise.

--------

We'd always known that the ruling junta cared little for the people Myanmar whom they hold captive. But impeding aid in this time of tremendous suffering and then manipulating it into a propaganda act goes beyond cruel.

Sheer depravity, I say. They are no better than the Khmer Rouge. It's most troubling that we, the people of the world, have allowed them (and those like them) to persist for so long.

[Phordphan]

The communists are bad, but these clowns may actually be worse.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

PP

[Mayday14]

Willy7942, thanks for the update. I'll second that your English is very readable and understandable.

I was intending to return at the beginning of next month and at the moment that's still my plan.

Seeing the news reports is made even harder when I remember how happy everyone was during it Thingyan.

I'll answer the other stuff when I feel it's more appropriate.

[Niknoy]

I really was going to go yangoon this year, so ill have to delay it for later in the year or next year, i would still take my money there to buid up the economy

But thanks for the report willy7942,i hope you keep us updated.

[Phordphan]

Today I arrived my home from yangon.

It is more serious that you heard. Yesterday people attacked water truck.

I stayes Traders hotel last 5 day. (16th floor) trader hotel very safe and no problem. It was ony one bulding keep light on all day. Central hotel no water no electronic.

So many myanmar people escaped broken house to hotel. There is no room.

All price 2-3 times up. Taxi trader to airport 17000-20000kyatt.

200-300 people wait to buy food and water in front of supermarket.

It is possible to meet lady, I recommand to go to BKK.

The night cyclone came, my lady so warried and scared. I didn, t anything and moning give money and say take care her familly.

I very poor at english (Asian man). So I can not write long and detail.

Willy,

Thank you for the report. Your English is just fine, and very readable.

I, for one, appreciate the on-the-spot reports about an area of the world we truly like. It seems so very sad, after all they have been through lately.

PP

[Willy7942]

Today I arrived my home from yangon.

It is more serious that you heard. Yesterday people attacked water truck.

I stayes Traders hotel last 5 day. (16th floor) trader hotel very safe and no problem. It was ony one bulding keep light on all day. Central hotel no water no electronic.

So many myanmar people escaped broken house to hotel. There is no room.

All price 2-3 times up. Taxi trader to airport 17000-20000kyatt.

200-300 people wait to buy food and water in front of supermarket.

It is possible to meet lady, I recommand to go to BKK.

The night cyclone came, my lady so warried and scared. I didn, t anything and moning give money and say take care her familly.

I very poor at english (Asian man). So I can not write long and detail.

[Willy7942]

I came back my home today from Yangon. Actually Trader hotel was no problem last 4 day. (I stayed Traders). But Central Hotel no water, no electric.

And so many myanmar people escaped broken home and stayed in hotel.

There is no room. All price up 2-3 times. Especially water problem. If you take taxi central to air port it take maybe 17000-20000.

If you want lady it is possibe. But you must be cafeful because cyclone and hungly change good myanmar people to thief. (It is real story)

Sorry I am very poor at english. (Asian man), so I can't write long & detail.

[Phordphan]

Here's a link to a video that appears to have been taken from Traders. It looks like the Sakura tower across the street.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7385157.stm

[Phordphan]

"where are all those uniformed people who are always ready to beat civilians?" said one man, who refused to be identified for fear of retribution. "they should come out in full force and help clean up the areas and restore electricity."

why did they have to quote that man twice in the same article? way too politically motivated information imo but yangon must be even more of a mess than usual.

reminds me about traders, the hotel already has about 4 floors reserved to un staff with a dedicated lift and they might take advantage of the situation to squatt more of the place. even tougher to get a decent suite there i'm afraid. anyway they might have something to do with the warning posters, and possibly traders is not the best hotel at the moment to bring the youngest girls, although locals have much more important issues to worry about.

that wire service article was very sloppily written.

the news this morning is that anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 people are dead. yangon is without electricity, although that, in itself, is nothing new. it just sounds worse. the delta region seems hardest hit.

you know the u.n. and other ngos are going to take advantage.

i've seen pix of the posters in question. they're sponsored by some feminist ngo. but i have absolutely no love for ****s and they deserve what they get. also, you have to be six kinds of stupid to go to a foreign country and start running around with girls who even look too young.

oh, another story this am quotes the u.s. embassy in yangon as stating that they have a rapid response team ready and waiting to assist, but that the myanmar gov't won't allow them to proceed. typical.

pp